TESTIMONY OF VERNON E. DELPESCE, PRESIDENT & CEO YMCA of GREATER DES MOINES IOWA
LABOR, HEALTH and HUMAN SERVICES and EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2004
Good morning, my name is Vernon Delpesce and I am the President of the Des Moines YMCA. I want to begin by thanking Senator Specter and my Senator, Tom Harkin, for their interest in preventing chronic disease in this country through programs that promote healthy lifestyles.
The state of Iowa is an example of what is occurring across the country related to chronic disease. In the last decade the number of people who are obese has almost doubled. The prevalence of diabetes has also grown at an alarming rate, especially in children and minorities. According to the Prevention Research Center at the University of Iowa, 62% of Iowans are overweight or obese (See Attachment A). Preventable chronic disease is costly today, but if this trend continues it could be devastating to our future. I believe the only way to turn things around is through prevention.
In Des Moines, various community leaders have recognized these trends and are starting to take action. Local corporations like Principal Financial Group and Meredith Corporation are providing extensive wellness programs for their employees. And our state health department sponsors the Iowa Games and Lighten Up Iowa which involve thousands of people who are becoming more active and losing weight.
The Des Moines YMCA has also responded. We currently serve 56,000 people annually – ½ of these are under the age of 18. Through a collaborative effort with the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Cancer Society, we are putting health related educational materials in the hands of the people who need it the most. Thanks to the support of Senator Harkin, we are reaching more teens than ever before by expanding teen programs in 21 cities across Iowa. In addition, we have a commitment and responsibility to serve low income individuals and families. Like all YMCAs throughout the country, we do not turn people away due to an inability to pay. Last year alone we provided over $1.1 million in scholarships and subsidies to ensure that our programs are open and accessible to all so disadvantaged people have the same access to our health and fitness programs as everyone else.
The dramatic increase in obesity and chronic disease in Iowa has caused us to provide a renewed emphasis on our programs that focus on physical activity and healthy eating. As a matter of fact last Saturday we completed two one-week camps for children with diabetes. Three hundred and fifty youth with diabetes and sixty five medical personnel attended YMCA Camp Hertko Hollow to learn good nutrition habits. They also learned how to monitor their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections. They had a lot of fun; and yes Senator Harkin, they learned the importance of eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
Despite all of our efforts – and the efforts of the public health community in the city – we are losing ground. This is why Des Moines has decided to participate in the YMCA’s Activate America project. In Des Moines, our team consists of 8 community leaders including: Former Governor Terry Branstad, the President of Des Moines University; Mary Hansen, the Director of Iowa Department of Public Health; Dr. John Lowe, the Director of the Prevention Research Center at the University of Iowa; Dr. Ed Hertko, retired physician and board member of the American Diabetes Association; Kaye Halvorson, the Wellness Director for the Principal Financial Group; Sam Carroll, Executive Director of Is It Good For The Kids?; Doug Reichardt, the Chairman and CEO of Holmes Murphy a large insurance brokerage firm and chairman of the Iowa Games; and myself.
I am confident that the results of our effort will begin to reverse the trend; however it is more important for me to remember that behind the numbers and percentages are people. People like 9-year-old Ellie Westercamp who is with me today. Ellie overcame severe asthma by increasing her activity through a swimming program. It is about the real people who live healthier and more fulfilling lives as a result of our programs that keep me motivated to work on projects like Activate America.
Again, I thank you for your commitment to prevention and I look forward to our work together in the months and years ahead.
